How 'Cold-Blooded' Animals Survive the Cold

We humans can rely on our internal body heat to help keep us warm. But what can cold-blooded animals do when faced with the threat of freezing? Here are three creatures that have come up with some...“cool” solutions.

Hosted by: Michael Aranda

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Sources:
Overall
Painted Turtles
Wood Frogs
Antarctic Nematodes

Thank you to Prof. Jon Costanzo for the footage of the thawing wood frog, and Prof. D.A. Wharton for the footage of the freezing & thawing Antarctic nematode!

Image Sources:
Prof. D.A. Wharton, Department of Zoology, University of Otago.

[Ty]

0:13 I mean style points for putting a sweater on a turtle.

[gildedbear]

My favorite realisation was that cold and warm blooded creatures are different forms of efficient. Enzymes are pretty temperature dependent so warm blooded creatures can get by with a "small" set but then have to control their temperature. On the other hand, cold blooded creatures don't need to spend energy to maintain a stable temperature but instead need to have a much larger selection of enzymes available for different temperatures.

[GaryDunion]

"It does no good to put a sweater on a turtle." Strongly disagree. It might not make it any warmer but it would look cute as hell.

[UGNAvalon]

Weather: “Winter is here, baby!”
Invertebrates: “Guess I’ll—“
Weather: “die?”
Invertebrates: “No, freeze. Wake me when it’s spring. 🥱”

[BLOODKINGbro]

I remember reading a book that way back in the old days people actually thought birds would rest at the bottom of lakes during the winter

[kdavis]

Wood frogs are actually pretty cool. Other than freezing over winter when they croak they sound like ducks. They are found in vernal forest pools in early spring where they lay their eggs. When the vernal pools dry up the frogs are turned out to live the rest of the year in the forest. I love wood frogs and painted turtles.

[Weirdoid]

Back when I used to ice fish I used to wonder why perch are active all year, bass are sluggish in the cold, and burbot are most active in the cold.

[Halario]

Me, seeing the title: Oh awesome, I always wanted to know how *snakes* survived the winter!

SciShow: So anyway let's talk about our favorite cold-blooded animal, the *nematode*.

Me:

[serge]

Frozen Wood was something mentioned in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Neat.

[lealta]

The turtles hang out in the ponds under the ice with all the birds

[davidpavel]

Once i find a job becoming a member will be one of the first things i buy

[PierroCh]

Completely unrelated but Michael's voice is so soothing 😴

[uplink-on-yt]

Imagine going to sleep as a ball of ice and waking up as a scientific paper on how your kind doesn't freeze to death.

[raydunakin]

I'd like to know how cold-blooded animals can remain active in cold conditions. For instance, here in San Diego we have lizards, which are only active when the weather is warm. But we also have salamanders, which seem to be most active in cold weather only come out at night and are most active in cold weather. How do the salamanders thrive in conditions that would put lizards into torpor?

[MonikaZabcik]

I always wonder about this. This video was the perfect video to post today as a birthday gift to me. <3

[dragolingrand]

Ambibia had an episode where the frog people in wartwood freeze up in the winter. I think it was a reference to the woodfrogs. Neat.

[BlackCat_]

There is a natural spring lake near my house that is always warm no matter the temperature. It is always 70+ degrees even if there is snow on the ground. :) I love watching the steam rise up from the water when it is cold. Lots of turtles, frogs, fish, plants and other creatures live there too and because of protections are the only ones that can swim in it. :D - Heidi

[Oncus]

Ok, it's clear that we are going to be invaded by alien super frogs that could survive the long space travel.

[thescarlethunter]

Like some humans say “life finds a way”

[natureinmotion]

So glad you decided to let us see both your eyes again.